Atmore, Alabama – An arrest has been made in connection with a Saturday morning murder in Atmore, Alabama. The Atmore Police Department responded to gunfire just before 11 a.m. in the area of Martin Luther King Avenue and Bragg Street. Upon arrival, they found a 39-year-old Okeema McCants suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. McCants was transported to Atmore Community Hospital where he later died.
According to Atmore Police Sgt. Darrell McMann, witnesses stated that Mr. McCants was driving on Martin Luther King when he stopped to try and stop a physical altercation between a group of males in the street. Multiple shots were fired shortly after Mr. McCants tried to intervene. This led to the arrest of 25-year-old Charles DeWayne Walker of Atmore about two hours later. Walker was found in possession of a handgun stolen from Jefferson County, Alabama at the time of his arrest and also had an outstanding warrant for theft of property.
Charles DeWayne Walker was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond on a charge of murder. Investigators are still attempting to identify the other individuals involved in the altercation. Anyone with information is asked to call Atmore Police at (251) 368-9141.
The incident is a tragic and unfortunate event that has left the community in shock. The arrest of Charles DeWayne Walker brings a sense of relief to the community, but the investigation is ongoing. The Atmore Police Department is urging anyone with information to come forward in order to bring justice to Okeema McCants and his family. This incident serves as a reminder of the need for community involvement in preventing and solving crimes.